Two companies are looking for tax breaks for their expansion plans in northern Bartholomew County, with about $30 million in total investment across the street from each other.

The County Council tonight will be considering tax abatements for two companies in an economic revitalization zone in the Edinburgh area. Under a tax abatement, property taxes are phased in over a period of years, rather than due all at once.

Drug Plastics Closures Inc. is planning a new facility on West County Road 800N. A new 60,000 square foot building would connect two buildings on the property at a cost of just under $15 million dollars with another $11 million investment in new equipment. A company spokesman said that approval of a tax abatement would be the deciding factor whether the company builds the facility here or in Arizona.

Tsune America LLC is planning a new $3 million, 18 thousand square foot facility next to their current facility on Presidential Way. It will also include $1 million in new equipment.

Both companies are seeking a 10-year abatement on the real property and a 5 year abatement on equipment.

County Commissioners signed off on the requested tax abatements at their meeting yesterday.

County Council meets at 6 p.m. tonight in their chambers at the Bartholomew County Governmental Office Building on Third Street.

Cummins is planning a return to the office in some capacity for many of its workers. That’s according to a report from The Republic newspaper.

The paper reports that Cummins plans to re-open its Indiana offices, including the downtown Columbus headquarters, on April 4th. Some workers will be working fully on-site, some fully remotely and some a hybrid between the two, a company spokeswoman told the newspaper. Most employees are likely to be hybrid, she said.

The paper says downtown merchants and restaurants are looking forward to the return of the employees foot traffic.

You can read more about the story here.

Flood warnings are in effect on area rivers and streams after yesterday’s heavy rain. Minor flooding is happening on many rivers and minor flooding is forecast.

East Fork White River at Columbus appears to be rising above the 9-foot minor flood stage this morning and is expected to crest about half a foot above flood level overnight, before dropping back down below the flood stage tomorrow.

East Fork White River at Seymour is seeing minor flooding this morning, with water about four feet above the 12 foot minor flood stage. The river is expected to crest at about 16.2 feet by Tuesday evening and won’t return to normal levels until Saturday.

Flat Rock River at Columbus is running a foot and a few inches above the 11 foot minor flood stage. It is expected to crest at about 12.4 feet this afternoon, before returning to normal levels overnight.

Driftwood River at Edinburgh is at 12.3 feet this morning, about a foot and a half above the 11 foot minor flood stage. The river is expected to crest only a few inches below the moderate flood stage early Wednesday morning. It should return to normal levels by Thursday afternoon.

The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department has closed portions of the People Trail due to high water including the section from Northbrook to State Street. Areas prone to flooding such as State Road 46, Noblitt Park and Mill Race Park may also be inaccessible. The trail sections will reopen after the water goes down and crews have a chance to clean up any debris.

Indiana State Police are investigating after an inmate died at the Decatur County jail.

According to reports from the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department, an unresponsive male inmate was found at the detention center on Saturday. After life-saving measures were attempted, the inmate, 52-year-old Ricky Hazelgrove was taken to Decatur County Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Indiana State Police are investigating the death, as they normally do in jail deaths.

A wanted Jennings County man is facing a slew of new charges after a police chase Saturday.

According to reports from the Jennings County Sheriff’s Department, deputies noticed 50-year-old Israel Richardson of Vernon driving at about 2:32 p.m. Saturday afternoon on State Road 3 and recognized that he was wanted on several warrants.

Instead of stopping when deputies tried to pull him over, Richardson allegedly took off, throwing bags of methamphetamine out of the car as he drove away. After a few miles, Richardson stopped but refused to get out of this vehicle until a police dog was used to remove him. He allegedly hit the dog several times with his fists.

A passenger got out of the vehicle and surrendered without incident.

After being treated for injuries at a local hospital, he was taken to jail where he got into another scuffle with deputies. He was arrested on new preliminary charges including resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, trafficking with an inmate, obstruction of justice, battery on a law enforcement animal, resisting law enforcement, possession of methamphetamine, a syringe, a hypodermic needle and drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended and reckless driving.

He had outstanding warrants from Kentucky, Johnson and Bartholomew counties.

The passenger, 23-year-old Lyric Ewing of Vernon, is facing charges including trafficking with an inmate, possession of methamphetamine, a syringe, a hypodermic needle and drug paraphernalia.

Several rivers and streams are seeing high water in our area, and runoff from today’s heavy rains are causing even more flooding problems. according to the National Weather Service.

Between 2 to 2.5 inches of rain have fallen in the area , causing river levels to rise.

A flood warning is in effect for Haw Creek until this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Minor flooding is forecast and minor flooding is happening. Haw Creek is expected to drop back below flood levels by this afternoon.

Driftwood River is on its way up and is expected to crest a few inches below the moderate flood stage. A flood warning goes into effect this evening for the river and remains in effect through Thursday evening. The weather service river gauges are estimating a crest of 13.8 feet at Edinburgh, just inches below the 14 foot moderate flood stage.

The Driftwood River should drop below the flood stage by Thursday morning.

East Fork White River at Seymour is under a flood warning, going into effect this afternoon. The agency says that the river should enter the minor flood stage by this afternoon, with the  river cresting Thursday afternoon at about 15.9 feet, just over a foot below the moderate flood stage. Minor flooding is forecast.

Throughout our area, a flood warning has been extended until 4 this afternoon for surface flooding, caused by heavy rainfall runoff. The National Weather Service says affected counties in our area includes portions of Bartholomew, Johnson, Shelby, Brown, and Jackson counties.

You will mostly see flooding in low-lying areas and those with poor drainage.

Bartholomew County Emergency Management said these roads were reportedly closed or covered by high water as of 12:30 p.m.

High Water:
100 W/ 800 N
SR9 / Grand St.

Road closed:
Rockyford Rd between Marr Rd and Longshore Dr.
S Gladstone Ave

Moderate flooding is occurring along North Fork Salt Creek in the Nashville area.

The agency says that you should not drive onto flooded roadways. Turn Around and Don’t Drown.

Indiana State Police have launched a death investigation after a man’s body was found in a vehicle in Brownstown.

According to Indiana State Police reports, Brownstown rescue workers were called about an unconscious man in a vehicle on Main Street at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon. They determined the man was already dead and he was pronounced dead by the Jackson County Coroner’s office.

An autopsy is scheduled and the man’s identity still needs to be confirmed before his name is released, troopers say.

The Brown County clerk is facing misconduct charges after an investigation by state police.

According to Indiana State Police reports, the organized crime and corruption section began an investigation in June of 2020, after other county officials accused Circuit Court Clerk Kathy L. Smith of official misconduct.

Smith failed to provide receipts after using a county-issued credit card for items that were not for use in the clerk’s office. The investigation revealed other inappropriate personal purchases that were not for the Brown County government and did not benefit its citizens.

A warrant was issued for Smith’s arrest on Friday and she turned herself in later that day. She is facing charges including official misconduct of a public servant, deception and theft.

The Indiana State Fire Marshal is offering a $5,000 reward for information about two suspicious fires last month in Jackson County.

According to the Medora Police Department, a structure fire was reported on West County Road 300N in Freetown on February 23rd. A second structure fire was reported a few hours later on February 24th in Medora. Both of the buildings are owned by the same people. The fires are being investigated as arson.

If you have any information about the fires, you can call the Indiana State Fire Marshal Office at 800-382-4628 or you can email [email protected]. Tips can be made anonymously.

Two people are under arrest after a counterfeiting incident at the Edinburgh Outlet Mall last week led to a police chase.

According to Edinburgh Police reports, officers were called to the mall after a store accepted several $100 bills that were fake. A woman fled to a car in the parking lot but when police tried to stop the vehicle, it fled the wrong way on U.S. 31 before cutting across the median and driving south on Interstate 65. Police were able to stop the vehicle at the Walesboro exit, when it tried to back up the interstate the wrong way, but wasn’t able to get around stopped semis.

Police retrieved four counterfeit bills thrown from the vehicle as well as two from the outlet store. The driver, 41-year-old William Cokley of West Lafayette was arrested on preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, driving while suspended and criminal recklessness.

The passenger, 26-year-old Erica May of Milwaukee, Wisconsin is being accused of theft and counterfeiting.

Photo: Evidence photo courtesy of Edinburgh Police Department.